COUNCIL WRAP UP FROM MAYOR LEWIS
FUTURE FORNEY
City staff and Halff Associates have worked for the past year on an update to the City of Forney’s Comprehensive Plan. The last update was performed in 2016. The draft document includes the new plan, titled Future Forney, that will guide the growth and development for the next 20 years. The plan includes three documents: a) the current State of the City, b) the Vision Plan, and c) the Community Blueprint. An Ordinance adopting the new Comprehensive Plan will be considered by City Council on April 4, 2023. The full presentation can be seen here.
BEAUTIFYING FORNEY
City Council authorized staff to seek bid proposals for mowing and litter removal services along the Highway 80 corridor. This is a state-maintained thoroughfare that is currently mowed only three times a year with once a month litter pickup by TxDOT; however, the increased high traffic and winds have created much more debris. As part of beautifying Forney, the City is seeking to perform these services to improve the presence of the City of Forney; and TxDOT will reimburse the City for a portion of the expenses. Comparative cities that have clean and well groomed corridors take this same approach, meaning the City takes a larger part in maintaining the grass and litter control for a proper representation of its city.
RANCH ROAD & FM 740 PROJECT
In conjunction with Forney ISD, the City is working to widen Ranch Road from FM 740 to the north City limits. Project bids were presented and the best proposal came in at $5.1M. This exceeds the staff-estimated cost of $3.5M. City Council tabled the funding request until more information on this expense could be determined alongside FISD and the best approach to move forward to possibly closing the gap of $1.5M.
SELLING CITY-OWNED TRAMS
At the recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Board, City Council also unanimously voted to sell the City-owned trams purchased in April 2020. The trams were initially bought with the intent of being used for an annual holiday light show along the trails of Forney Community Park. Due to several factors, the light show never came to fruition, and the City has not been able to find a safe and responsible use for the trams. The City staff will seek potential buyers for the best value. A formal presentation can be seen here on the history and issues regarding the trams.